Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-09
ROSA TURNS TRAGEDIAN.
The Feuian Chief Writes a Sensa-
tional Irish Drama.
Froal IA Nelo York lforntnq J.urnal.

: rom the -NelD IOrh 2IOfnt1g J5NfFtuts
A report that O'Donovan Rosa was
about to make his debut as an actor
spread ike wiidhre through New York
and Brooklyn Yesterday. AT the markets,
on the cars, in barrooms, in the streets
and elsewhere every one was talking
about it,
Hes goin' to be an actor, is hep said
one old gentleman TO another on Third
| avenue car yesterday morning.
"Well, don't know but he have as
much rigut to so out on the stage as any
one else. Pa be willing to bet that he'd
do great deal better nor good many or
the English dudes they've been importing
over here lately"
"Will there be any dynamite la the
play, do you tbinkp'
''Dynamitel DO you think, bad luck
to We, that he lives on dynamite. Any one
to hear you would suppose that the man
goes around with a can Oft in his pocket
the whole blessed Time"
mo, don't say that. ] know very
well, though, that if he wanted couple
barrels Of it he'd come very near know
ing where TO go and look for it,"
Three or four prominent Fenlans when
asked about the rumOr would not deny
that there was something in it, but any
further than that were extremely ret1cent.
Said one:
NOWs NOu LtGtlu ky Dtsl dulhS my iAohiC
IN the paper, but what | tell you you can
90 and take your affidavit to on stack of
Bibles as hign as the Bartholdi statue.
O'DOnovan Rossa's written an Irish
drama. and it's a Corker."
'Gihe scenes are laid in Cork, then"
suggested the reporter.
Cork nothing! The scenes are laid in
Ireland. 1t viii be u pig 90, CoO."
'ls he to play In it himseliW
al oil Won DON'T
pose II would be any good with O'Dono-
van Rossa lett out, do you? Sure you
might as well try to play Hamlet with
Hamlet cut away from it alto ether"
what sort of play is it?"
''It's play about Ireland and play
the American people never saw the likes
OF. When it is produced-and produced
it will belt will raise a commotion, Phi
tell YOU"
''What is 1t lke?"
sit amt like anything. It's original
from one end to the other, and 1t will
open the eyes of the people of this cOun-
try to what Is going on in unhappy Ire
land under English misrule."
"Are any prominent Fenians other than
O'DOnOyan Rosa to take part?"
son, yes! 1t will be as realistic as we
can make it. Quite number of very
prominent men among our people have
been cast"
MANY ladies' in the castp
es, indeed! and you would be sur
prised to know the names of a few of
them. They represent the best, wealth.
est and most influential Irish families IN
this city, Brooklyn and Jersey City"
"Wlll you kindly give me few of their
names?''
"On, no! What fool I'd be. Sure it
would be worth me life to do 1t. Man
alive, they'd be down here like swarm
OF bees, and I'd never hear the last of it
Why don't you 20 down and see himself
about it? He's good fellow. He'll tell
you everything you want to know. But,
whisper, don't tell him that | sent you.
Good day."
The reporter called on O'Donovan
Rosa, who greeted him kindly, and was
surprised when apprised of the object of
his visit.
CHOW, how did you learn of thisY' he
sand, with half smile. "Tell me how
you heard of it, and Pll tell you what
there is Ia it."
1T is common rumor and the people
are discussing 1t everywhere"
''Well, Pll tell you. ! am busy fixing
up an Irish play, sucn as the American
people nave never witnessed. / have not
decided on a title as yet, but it will be a
good one, have no doubt"
You are TO assume the principal char
acter yourself, are you notY'
Nv ell, no. did think something OF doing
so, but some OfmY cOadjutors have an idea
that | would be lowering myself TO do so.
| see no difference in my occupying the
central figure in drama depicting Irish
life than going on the platform or editing
| the United freshman. Do yOuT'
"You have not gwen up the idea of
playing, then; you have not wholly de-
oided not to do it?"
"NO, no; can't say that ] have, ana
won't say that have not. Here, III give
you bit of noLe that viii settle the
whole bushes
Selling pencil and a scrap of paper he
wrote the following, which he handed to
the reporter:
The drama is being prepared. 1t de-
plcts Irish life-landlOrdism, evictions,
trials, jury.packing-al phases of Irish
life. 1t would be Immediately finished
and put on the stage only that one or TWO
characters in the drama refuse to act in
person the parts they acted in Irish life
O'DONOVAN Rosa.
There, take that and my blessing with
it," said Mr. Rosa smiling. 81 think IT
possible that the one or two persons re-
ferred to may be induced to Withdraw
their objections after awhile, and the play
Will be brought out.
An uptown manager stated that be
stands ready to give O'DOnovan Ross a
years engagement for his play and SER
vices, and will bind himself 10 ''star'
him and pay him $500 per week.